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Coping With My PTSD

Special Thanks To My Mental Health Team

By Mariann CarrollPublished 11 months ago • 3 min read
Coping With My PTSD
Photo by Miguel Bruna on Unsplash

Coping With My PTSD

Thank you to my Mental Health Team2025

These past few weeks have been a rollercoaster. I also have Stomach Obstruction on top of that. Every year, I usually volunteer in the community. I attended the Election Training but was unable to volunteer on Election Day. My gut health was terrible. I wrote about my Obstruction before.

Today, I had a court date by phone, and my dear friend Karen came over for moral support. My Facebook friends always send prayers and good vibes. I have also been seeing a mental health team for help in coping with my ex-husband. It's been over 15 years since the divorce, but he consistently harassed me before he was sentenced to 15 years in jail last year. That's another story.

I was having a hard time sleeping, and I was reliving his abuse in my head every time I was thinking of today's court date. I started taking Sertraline in 2022 due to my shaking every time I was around my ex-husband. I could not cope with my PTSD and my Stomach Obstruction at the same time.

It was like a war in my body and in my mind. The pains stored in the body and memory just wanted to get out, but I was not allowing them.

( Method)This method acknowledged the feelings of pain.

https://youtu.be/1yQX1y7zMAg?si=uMRH7u3p53qTBgdW

Harmony Haven Meditation: Leaves on a Stream Guided Meditation

I asked my friend to come over and be my moral support. She did even if she was in the middle of something. ( She actually offered to come over.)She is truly a gift. She is an angel. She is getting married this coming Valentine's Day 2026.

I was in therapy for over an hour yesterday, and it certainly helped me cope with my ex-husband. I was having a mental breakdown. I was feeling very overwhelmed, and things in my purse were falling out.

I was reliving the physical abuse in my head over and over again, which did not solve anything.

The therapist was very supportive and understood what I was going through. She even let me listen to calming music during our session.

She did have to ask questions. I share what I do at home to cope.

I told her why I did not take Sertraline every day, as I am supposed to. I tried it several times on the fourth consecutive day, and I started having thoughts of wanting to hurt myself. Now, take it every other day or every two days to help prevent those thoughts.

I do self-talk and tell myself that's not me talking, but the pain. The pain inside is like a child that wants to remove the hurt from resurfacing repeatedly like a broken record. It makes you feel very fatigued.

I also learn that I do not have to react to my ex-husband's poor behavior; my lawyer was very excellent at keeping my ex-husband in check. I thought my ex-husband was going to let loose his violent tendency. He just shouted at the Judge and at my lawyer.

My lawyer did not put up with my ex-husband's nonsense. My Sertraline keeps me very calm today. I would typically get emotional and start crying without the Sertraline. I let out all my pain and grievances at my therapy session yesterday as well.

The night before, I also listened to a hypnosis recording to build courage and become fearless. I did not eat this morning but drank water, so my stomach won't have any excuse to throw up or be in pain. I only had one meal yesterday, Chicken Salad.

I put a full stop armour for this court date. I also said my silent prayers for everyone involved. I thank everyone who supported me during this rollercoaster ordeal. My gut and Primary care teams are the best as well.

Thank you, God, for everything!

self caremeditationmental health

About the Creator

Mariann Carroll

Proactive for positive change.Born in the City of Chicago ,Illinois.

Multi race .Studied in a foreign country .Fluent in several languages .

fascinated by diversity.A Romantic and a dreamer.Interest in healthy living

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    Written by Mariann Carroll